by Taylor Anne
The four people in the room nodded at each other, but no one spoke. Evan broke the silence. “LJ, Serena, is everything ready?”
The woman he called Serena answered. “All set. Take care of her and we are outta here.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for the others?” Evan’s voice was edgy.
Others? There’s more of them? What the hell were they planning to do to her?
Serena scanned the room, not focusing on anything in particular. “Sure. We have at least a three-hour wait, but it’ll be worth it.”
She stared at Abby then. Dark, stormy eyes locked on hers. Those eyes. That’s it. The locket she found at Graeme’s. It was her. What the hell? Graeme was involved in this too?
****
The wait was killing her. Abby sat in that chair for the last couple hours. Alonzo, the muscle of the four, was assigned to watch her while the other three went in and out of the room several times. She didn’t know where they went when they left. At one point, Abby had the brilliant idea of trying to escape. She begged Alonzo to untie her and allow her to go to the bathroom. Maybe there’s a window or another door she could try to escape from. Or catch someone’s attention. If there was anyone around the deserted area.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
Alonzo glanced up from the desk. “Hold it.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I’ve been holding it for hours. Please untie me and let me go.”
He glanced at his watch, then stood. He rounded the corner of the desk, and stopped right in front of Abby. Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he dialed and waited for an answer. “Boss lady, she needs the bathroom.” He listened, then flipped his phone shut, shoving it back in his pocket.
Less than thirty seconds later, the door opened and Serena walked in. She was tall and slender with olive colored skin. Her eyes were as dark as her long hair. She would be attractive if she didn’t put off vibes of being a bitch. A controlling, manipulative one at that. Abby didn’t like her since the first time the woman walked through that door. Every time they made eye contact, she sneered. Abby was nothing more than dirt under Serena’s feet. What did I ever do to you, bitch?
Serena stood in the doorway while Alonzo untied Abby’s feet. He pulled her up from the chair. It took a few seconds for Abby to get steady on her feet. She walked toward Serena, who stepped aside, allowing Abby to walk out before her. Immediately to the left was another door. Serena pushed the door open and shoved Abby inside. The bathroom was small with no windows at all. So much for the idea of escaping. Especially with boss lady standing watch over her while she used the facilities.
When Abby was done, she was ushered back into the office, tied up again, and handed a bottle of water. Because her hands were cuffed again, she had to lift both hands to take a drink. She didn’t realize how thirsty she was until she gulped down half the bottle in one drink. The wetness slid down her parched throat.
Now she sat there once again. Waiting. For what, she didn’t know. Evan and Serena sat at the back of the office on the couch. LJ straddled a metal chair next to them. And muscles sat at the desk watching Abby. He just stared at her. Real creepy.
There were no windows. Abby didn’t know what time of day it was, but it had to be late afternoon by now. It seemed like hours passed since she was brought there. She tried asking questions about why she was there and what they wanted from her. They ignored her. And when they talked amongst themselves, they did it quietly so she couldn’t hear. Or they stepped outside of the office. Abby didn’t know if Laci, Graeme, or anyone else knew she was back in New Orleans. She felt so helpless. There was nothing for her to do except sit and wait. She tried once again to get someone to talk to her.
“Evan please tell me what is going on. What are you planning on doing to me?” He ignored her, and continued talking with Serena. Anger mixed with fear. “Evan! Damn you, talk to me.”
He stood. In less than three strides he stood in front of Abby. “You fucked everything up with your testimony. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Panic coursed up her spine. “But there was a mistrial. LJ and Alonzo are free.”
“For now. But because of you, now the police are on to me too.”
“You… Why? I don’t understand.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “The mistrial. The evidence that disappeared.”
Abby shook her head. He wasn’t making any sense. She wasn’t aware of any missing evidence. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t need to know that. Just sit tight. This will all be over with soon enough.”
She strained against the ropes on her feet. They were cutting into her skin. The pain of the raw flesh on her wrists and feet mixed with the fear and anger already in her system. “Well what are you waiting for? Just kill me and get it over with.”
Serena’s high pitched laugh filled the room. “Time, baby. Things like this take time. We are waiting on one more player. It’s a long drive from Orange Beach, but he should be here soon.”
Whoa, what did she just say? Coming from Orange… “Who are you waiting on?” Abby’s stomach fell. She knew the answer to that before she even asked. But she had to hear someone say the words. Had Graeme been involved in this since the beginning? Did he know the reason Abby was in Orange Beach before she approached him? She was such a fool to trust the man. Hell, before all of this, she had only spent one night with him. What the hell was she thinking to trust someone after one night of intense lovemaking? To search him out seven years later only showed her weakness. Her vulnerabilities. Never again would she trust someone so easily. Even though it felt so right with him. Nope. Never again. Of course, there would be no second chance if she didn’t make it out of there alive.
Serena smirked. “Graeme of course.”
Okay, so Abby was a little hard-headed at times. She had a hard time accepting the fact that Graeme jilted her. Although right now the facts slapped her in the face, he was a total dick; Abby still felt something click in the back of her head. But really, who was she kidding? Herself more than likely. She had to play her cards now if she had any chance of getting out of there.
“So you think Graeme is coming here for you?” Abby faked the sweetness in her voice.
Serena laughed. “Baby, I can’t wait to see him again. I haven’t been able to see him since all of this shit started.”
Since this started? So she’d been involved since the drug deal months earlier. Where was Graeme at that time? Were they working together then? That couldn’t be true. There had to be more to the situation than what appeared.
“You’re wrong. He loves me.” She only wished he actually said those words to her. Maybe then he would come to her aid. She had to see if the woman was bluffing. If Abby could trip her up, then maybe she had a chance.
That damn irritating high pitched laugh again. It drove Abby crazy. The woman was insane. She paced back and forth between the couch and the desk. Reaching into her waistband, she pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Abby. “Girl, you have no clue. No clue at all. Do you even know him? Do you know what’s he’s been involved in?”
“I know he would do anything to save me.”
“Really. Do you know what happened last time he tried to save a woman?”
Abby didn’t know what Serena was talking about. Graeme tried to save a woman? What happened? And who was the woman? Not that crazy bitch, Abby hoped. She didn’t need saving. Someone needed to put her down. During the conversation, Serena constantly paced and waved the gun in the air. At least she wasn’t pointing it directly at Abby any longer. Evan, LJ, and Alonzo stood back, watching the scene. They obviously took their orders from Serena, the psycho boss lady.
“You don’t know shit lady. I have friends and cops who are on their way to help me. It’s only a matter of time before they barge in here,” Abby said.
“Yeah, friends like Evan here, who blew the whole trial you were testifying at.” She flicked her head toward Evan.
Serena smirked. “Who do you think provided more evidence for the defense? Honey, it wasn’t just coincidence that those additional pictures showed up. And do you really think he let his partner know you were in town? Come on. You’re smarter than that.”
“Laci and Graeme will be here any minute for me. You are lying. Graeme is coming for me. I know it.” As much as Abby hated it, she fought to hold the tears back. She couldn’t let that woman see her cry.
“That’s what I thought. You have no idea what he is capable of. Do you really think some nothing woman from New Orleans is capable of bringing us down? Abby, you are not woman enough for a man like Graeme.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Laci, I’m about forty-five minutes away from New Orleans. Give me a good update.” Graeme pressed the accelerator harder. He couldn’t get there fast enough. He had to get to her.
“We’ve pinged her cell phone. I’ll text the address to you. I’ll call for back up and meet you there shortly. Be careful.”
“Laci, stall the back up for a bit. I want to get in there first. I know where she is.”
“Graeme, I don’t think that is a good idea.”
“I need time, Laci. Stall them,” he barked.
“I’ll try. But only as a favor for Abby.”
“Thanks.” He disconnected the call and sighed. He had to get in and see Serena before the cops got there. That uneasy feeling sank to the bottom of his stomach. His thigh ached. His mind raced with too many thoughts. This could not happen all over again. When he injured his leg trying to save Serena, he didn’t think he would ever see her again. After all they shared, she turned on him. She left him to stay in the dark world of drugs and murder. After all of those years, they would face each other again. That accident changed everything.
Now, he couldn’t let that injury hinder him from saving the woman he loved. He had to put aside the physical and emotional pain he suffered in order to save her before she got into any more trouble. She’d been through enough in her life. It was time for her to have a little peace. Graeme wanted to be the man to offer her that peace. He had the chance once before, and blew it. Fate had thrown him another opportunity and he was damned determined to do whatever he could to save her.
****
“Time to move,” Serena ordered. Everyone jumped into action at her command.
Abby sat rigid while Alonzo untied her legs and pulled her up, out of the chair. “Where are we going?”
Serena shook her head in frustration. “Someone shut her up. Put a gag in her mouth. I’m tired of listening to her ramble on about how Graeme is coming to save her. Lady, he’s not interested in saving you. You’re not worth it.”
Evan pulled a handkerchief out of the desk and stuffed it in Abby’s mouth, tying it behind her head. The stiff fabric scratched her face. It was tied so tight, she couldn’t speak, could hardly breathe. Her mouth was suddenly very dry. They walked out of the office, into the main warehouse area. Serena was behind Abby, the handgun pressed into her back. They stopped when they got to the center of the room.
Now that Abby’s eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, she could see things more clearly. They were in some type of production warehouse. Stacks of pallets and boxes were scattered around the room. On one end, there was some type of a conveyor belt that ran up and dumped into a huge container. From the ceiling hung several thick cables with big hooks on the ends of them. They stood next to one of those.
Serena barked out orders. “Evan, help me hook her up.”
Abby didn’t understand what she meant until Evan grabbed her hands and lifted them above her head. He looped the handcuffs around one of the hooks dangling from the ceiling. Abby’s arms stretched as far as they could. Her feet barely reached the ground. Tilting her head back, she could see the cable was attached to some type of pulley system. It didn’t seem like the cable would go very far in either direction. So she was pretty much stationary where she stood.
Silent tears ran down her face. It didn’t do any good to try to speak or make any noise. The gag prevented that, and those people didn’t care if she screamed, laughed, or cried. They were going to kill her either way. She wouldn’t even have the chance to tell her family good bye. Lauren would have to put her college education on hold to bury her mother. And Abby’s parents, how would this affect them? Uncle Mark, Brooke, Laci… Hell, even Cooper. And Graeme—who betrayed her beyond comprehension. She thought better of him. What happened to the man of integrity and morals who swore to protect the innocent and help rid the world of the bad guys? How did that man get mixed up with people like Serena and LJ?
Serena stood next to Abby. “LJ, Alonzo, go outside and keep lookout. Anything suspicious, you know what to do. I want to know the second he gets here.”
“On it boss,” they said in unison. Pulling their weapons, they checked to make sure the guns were ready to fire.
As they disappeared behind the partition to the outside door, Abby knew her time was almost up. What would Graeme say to her once he got there? Would he try to explain how and why he turned on her? How he used her. Would he watch Serena shoot her? Or would he be the one to pull the trigger? One part of Abby wanted to die right then, before she had to listen to his lying words. But the mother and daughter in her refused to give up. She would fight like hell to get out of there. First, she had to get out of the restraints.
****
Knowing that Serena would have someone on lookout, Graeme parked his car at the entrance of the alley. It was secluded enough so that no one could see or hear him. His senses were on high alert as he scanned the area outside the warehouse. The hair on the nape of his neck tingled.
He spotted two men. LJ leaned against the building behind a dumpster. The heavier man, Alonzo, was several feet away propped against a stack of boxes. Not very inconspicuous, but those men were not trained for that type of work. They were drug runners. Make the drop, collect the money. Their fuck up months ago caused them to have to shoot someone. That was not in the original plan. Serena had a lot of work to do with those two if she wanted them in her evil world.
Laci pulled up behind him. She had seen and worked many dangerous cases here in New Orleans, but Graeme hoped she was prepared for what was about to happen. “You have about twenty minutes before back up gets here. I couldn’t stall them any longer than that.”
“That’s fine. Let’s do what we are here to do.” They made their way quietly down the alley, taking cover behind crates, boxes, and dumpsters. Once they were close enough to the men, Graeme knew what had to be done next. “Laci, you’re going to have to make a run toward the car over there and take cover behind it. That will get you close enough to cover me so I can get over. Got it?”
Her expression was unsure. For her to get to the car, she would be out in the open. A wide open target. If those guys were good, they would have enough time to take her out.
“That’s taking a big risk running out in front of them. Are you sure there isn’t another way?” Indecision filled her eyes.
“There’s no other way. Just do it Laci. Once you get there, cover me.”
She readied her gun, glanced at the men, then took a final look at Graeme. “Go,” he commanded.
Her movement got the attention of both men, just as Graeme figured it would. Alonzo dropped down behind some boxes. From his point he did not have a clear shot at Laci. But LJ was hidden by the dumpster, and could hit her with one shot if he took a second to aim. Instead of focusing on Laci, LJ searched the alley. Graeme was well hidden, so there was no chance LJ would see him. Graeme turned his attention back to Laci. She slid on the pavement next to the car. She made it without anyone firing shots and alerting the others inside that there was trouble.
Good, that gave Graeme a few more minutes to do what he had to do. He pointed his pistol, his finger poised above the trigger. Laci took only a brief second to get her bearings. She held her gun at ready, and glared back at Graeme. T
aking a deep breath, he stood and slowly walked toward the car. Three pair of eyes watched him walk across the street. He didn’t slow down, or take cover. LJ and Alonzo aimed their guns at him.
“Whoa guys. You’ve got the wrong person.” Graeme flicked his gun toward Laci, who was still crouched behind the car. She started to turn her gun on him, but he shook his head. He hated doing this to her. She was a good person. But he did what had to be done. He took a deep breath and cut off all emotion. “She’s a cop.”
At that, LJ and Alonzo both turned their attention from Graeme to the spot he was aiming his gun. Although they could not see her, if Laci stood, she would be in plain view. She stared at him. Indecision and fear lit her wild eyes.
LJ yelled out, “Alonzo, go get Serena.”
“No.” Graeme said. Alonzo stopped midstride to the door. “She would want us to deal with this first. Then we’ll go see her together.”
Graeme kept Laci in his view, but his peripheral vision was on high alert watching for any movement from those men. Instead of going inside, Alonzo moved closer to LJ. The two of them stood beside the dumpster. If Graeme didn’t have Laci distracted with his gun pointed at her, she would be able to take LJ and Alonzo out from where she was. But she was focused on Graeme. Confusion and fear creased her brow.
“Man, I don’t know. She wanted to know the second you got here.”
“Trust me on this one LJ.” Graeme bit back. He focused his attention on Laci. He twitched his gun upward, indicating she should stand.